Muslim PG Student Thrashed in MP's Khandwa, Faces Sexual Assault Allegations

21-year-old Shahbaz was thrashed by a mob in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa over allegations of sexual harassment. Shahbaz's family has denied all allegations.

(Photo altered by Vishnukant Tiwari/The Quint)

A 21-year-old student was brutally thrashed by a mob in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa on 3 January, Tuesday, over allegations of sexual harassment, according to the local police. The incident was captured on video and has only surfaced now – almost two weeks later.

Who's he? The student has been identified as Shahbaz, a postgraduate student pursuing Masters in Computer Applications.

What is the police claiming? According to the police, Shahbaz had allegedly harassed a girl, following which he was attacked by the mob. The police added that two separate cases have been registered — one against against Shahbaz for assaulting the girl, and another against those who thrashed him.

Vivek Singh, Khandwa's Superintendent of Police, told The Quint Shahbaz couldn't identify any of the assailants, and hence, no names were mentioned in the FIR on that date.

"Initially, there was a girl who had complained against Shahbaz, accusing him of sexual assault and intimidation. A case was registered on her complaint. Later, some people took this man aside and thrashed him. We have registered two separate FIRs on both incidents. We have identified the people from the video – and necessary actions are being taken," SP Singh added.

What about the other FIR? In the video, several people are seen slapping Shahbaz before dragging him by his collar and beating him with rods. However, Shahbaz's family claimed that the charges against him are false – and that he was thrashed for being a Muslim.

The FIR registered on the complaint of Shahbaz noted:

"I was returning from Bombay Bazar on Khandwa road. As I reached near the Jio office in front of SN College, I met a girl. She was talking to me about some books when three or four people who I don't know came and asked me why I was talking to the girl and started beating me."

Talking to The Quint, Shahbaz's cousin Shahrukh Khan said:

"Shahbaz had gone with his sister who studies in SN College. She had some internship papers to take care of. He also had some work near the market. While he was waiting for his sister to return, he was called aside by some people affiliated to the Hindu Jagran Manch and was thrashed for almost three hours."

Who else is speaking up? Syed Nisar Ali, a leader of the Muslim community in Khandwa, issued a memorandum to the district police refuting the allegations against Shahbaz – and demanded legal actions against the men who thrashed him.

"A conspiracy case has been registered against him. He was caught and taken to the basement of a mall and thrashed. He was thrashed for being a Muslim… We have demanded that a case of kidnapping and mob-lynching should be registered against such people," he stated in his memorandum.

(with inputs from Khandwa's Shaikh Shakeel)